Asian Beetle: Fall is starting to set in with the daylight hours getting shorter along with cooler evenings. It's the time of year that some insects are looking for a place that is...

Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum

Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register ☰

Asian Beetle

Page 1 of 2 next>

Oct 7, 2021 17:41:21 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Fall is starting to set in with the daylight hours getting shorter along with cooler evenings. It's the time of year that some insects are looking for a place that is warm and dry that they can overwinter which means that they will be looking for ways to get into our house.

I found this one crawling about on the wall by the exterior door of our "dog family room" where our dogs and I spend most of our time and I let the dogs out and let the dogs in, etc., etc., etc. about every two hours from early morning to late at night.

The size#000 mounting pin can be seen which shows how I stage them for their focus stacking sessions before the camera.

(Download)

Oct 7, 2021 17:44:15 #

Quixdraw Loc: x

Dandy! The head covering looks a little like a Samurai Era helmet.

Oct 7, 2021 23:43:43 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

quixdraw wrote:

Dandy! The head covering looks a little like a Samurai Era helmet.

Thanks, Quixdraw. We have far too many invasive species of plants and insects in our area and these are one of them so I have no reservations about collecting a few for my photo sessions.

Oct 8, 2021 06:15:31 #

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

quixdraw wrote:

Dandy! The head covering looks a little like a Samurai Era helmet.

Before reading your comment, I was looking and wondering about how evolution came up with the helmet design.

Oct 8, 2021 06:37:57 #

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

sippyjug104 wrote:

Fall is starting to set in with the daylight hours... (show quote)

Fantastic image!!!!

Oct 8, 2021 07:04:22 #

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

Very nice with gentle colouring.

Oct 8, 2021 07:41:49 #

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Great shot(s) Gary. Love the detail you've captured. I assume that is a pin in the center of the shot.
>i< Doc

Oct 8, 2021 09:45:23 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

dpullum wrote:

Before reading your comment, I was looking and wondering about how evolution came up with the helmet design.

Dpullum, thanks for viewing and for the reply. Should you ever find out anything about the physical features of the beetle, please pass it along for inquiring minds want to know.

Oct 8, 2021 09:46:02 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Manglesphoto wrote:

Fantastic image!!!!

Thanks, Manglesphoto. It's nice to know that you enjoyed seeing it.

Oct 8, 2021 09:47:59 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

EnglishBrenda wrote:

Very nice with gentle colouring.

Thanks, Brenda. I've experimented with gosh knows how many techniques of lighting and diffusion and I believe that I have finally found a solution that is working well for the way that I stage my specimens and the lenses that I use.

Oct 8, 2021 10:02:30 #

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Wow, Gary - that's a great shot.

Oct 8, 2021 10:03:37 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

docshark wrote:

Great shot(s) Gary. Love the detail you've captured. I assume that is a pin in the center of the shot.
>i< Doc

Thanks, Doc. That is the mounting pin that I use for staging. I made a specimen holder that works great for me. It's a ball-bearing caster that I bought from the local hardware store for $2.50. The ball-bearing is press-fit into the housing and I tapped it with a hammer and it popped right out.

I painted the housing black and placed the ball-bearing on the hole which lets it sit securely in it. The flange of the caster makes a wonderful stable base. I put a pinch of plasticine modeling clay on the ball-bearing to stick the mounting pin into. The ball-bearing can be rotated with any pitch and yaw needed to position the specimen in front of the camera.

I use a piece of black velvet cloth to drape around it to prevent any fugitive light from reflecting which can create a haze in the image.